The Moss – “Insomnia” [Song Review]

Magna, Utah-based indie-rock outfit The Moss, recently released their new single/music video, “Insomnia,” a track the band explains as a “bittersweet song about passing the point in a relationship where you can’t sleep at night when you are away from them.”

The Moss’s genesis occurred on the shores of Oahu in 2015, when teenaged friends Tyke James (vocals, guitar) and Addison Sharp (guitar) landed a gig serenading diners at local taco trucks. By the time 2018 rolled around, they had added Willie Fowler (drums) and Addison’s brother, Brierton (bass), and shifted from the beaches of Hawaii to the Great Salt Lake.

In 2019, The Moss dropped their debut album, Bryology, brimming with the distinctive sound of Stratocasters driven through Fender amps.

Talking about Bryology, Tyke James says, “We basically had no budget. We bought some nice mics and an interface, and I ended up learning how to mix while we were recording.”

They followed with 2021’s Kentucky Derby. Comparing the two albums, Brierton Sharp shares, “Bryology seemed like a collection of separate songs we put together to make an album, whereas Kentucky Derby is a similar thought and story coming together to collectively make a more cohesive album. Each song could be listened to on its own, or you could listen to them all and get a broader sense of our intention.”

“Insomnia” opens on a rumbling, tight rhythm topped by a tasty alt-rock melody with hints of surf-rock running through it. Vaguely reminiscent of The Killers crossed with The White Stripes, the feel and flow of the tune are at once retro and modern, thrumming with vibrant energy. James’ deliciously inflected vocals reflect the overwhelming press of love.

The Moss

With “Insomnia,” The Moss delivers a beguiling song replete with an understated reckless dynamism and yummy vocals.

Run Time: 3:12
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Record Label: Self-Release